Motown's 50th Birthday.

Motown Records defined the sound of soul music for decades with artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and much more. Born in Detroit, Motown celebrates the milestone as the city of its birth faces utter collapse. While Detroit spawned the music giant, founder Berry Gordy took the label to Los Angeles in 1972, leaving behind a legacy, and most of the band that played on almost every album.

Started with an $800 family loan, Berry turned Motown into the biggest hit machine music has ever seen. The celebration will last through 2009 and includes retrospectives, musicals and lots of music. While Motown is not the monolith it once was, the anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate what was once the largest African American owned company on the planet. Since most of the musicians are still alive, they get the rare opportunity to have their genius remembered before they pass.

Motown has had over 200 Number one hits and created a pop music that can be heard as an influence in much of today's music. Motown also shifted the social conversation about music and played a role in the racial unification of America. The music was so moving that early on, many radio DJs would play the albums, risking their jobs for the love of the music itself.

The 50th anniversary of Motown is sure to have people "Dancin' in the Street."